DNA has learnt that Johri sent an email to Lodha panel asking for clarity on whether five-member selection panel is still eligible post the SC ruling.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) senior selection panel would meet for one last time on Friday in Mumbai to pick the team for three One Day Internationals and as many T20 International matches against England beginning on January 15.
This is because the entire BCCI office-bearers stand disqualified in the wake of Supreme Court's decision to implement the Justice RM Lodha panel suggested reforms.
President Anurag Thakur and secretary Ajay Shirke have been barred from entering BCCI premises after January 2 orders of the apex court. So, board's chief executive officer (CEO) Rahul Johri will convene the meeting in the absence of any eligible candidate amongst the entire defiant office-bearers.
DNA has learnt that Johri sent an email to Lodha panel asking for clarity on whether five-member selection panel is still eligible post the SC ruling.
The Lodha panel responded that "in the exceptional circumstance now you can go ahead with the present selection committee because of the urgency. But this will be "one off"... and CEO of BCCI can convene the meeting".
Lodha committee secretary Gopal Sankaranarayanan on Wednesday said, "BCCI CEO (Rahul Johri) emailed the committee (Lodha panel) early today saying that because there is no secretary etc and we need to convene the selection committee meeting to pick the team for England series. Also clarify whether it will be five-member selection committee as it is at present."
Entire panel to go
Ever since former Thakur picked his choice of selection panel after SC verdict on July 18, there were criticism over his choice as Jatin Paranjape and Gagan Khoda were picked without even being eligible as per Lodha panel criteria.
Even the other three selectors, MSK Prasad (chairman), Sarandeep Singh and Devang Gandhi — had an experience of just 13 Tests and 25 ODIs between them.
This was for the first time that BCCI had advertised for the post of selectors. And Thakur had allegedly taken full advantage of his position to pick the candidates of his own choice. DNA had reported that "one of the selectors was picked in the senior selection panel despite the fact that he had applied for the junior panel".
The emphasis of Lodha panel has been to do away with the zonal selection panel in order to curb nepotism in team selection. Until this selection panel took over, the five zones — north, west, east, south and central — used to nominate a candidate, who were then picked by BCCI.
Despite the directions, BCCI chief ignored the guidelines and chose Prasad to head the five-zone selection panel. There are now indications from Lodha panel that the current selectors might not continue once the new constitution is put in place by the new set of administrators after January 19.
"Make no mistake, the AGM which appointed the current selectors was null and void, because it directly related to operations for the year 2016-17, which is against the Court order," an official in the know clarified.
Also, Thakur's video clip posted on social media soon after his sacking by SC has apparently not gone down well, be it Lodha panel or people fighting against corrupt BCCI practices.
"Knowing well that he (Thakur) is facing perjury and contempt proceedings, he still has time and guts to mock the highest court of the land," said an official.
"Thakur's clip in all probability be placed before the SC bench during the next hearing," added the official.
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